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I have a question about the usage of the phrase "continue into". Let's say there is a fist fight.

  1. The fight continued into the afternoon.
  2. The fight continued into the parking lot.

Definition 1 of this dictionary have an example similar to sentence 1 but none similar to sentence 2. So, could sentence 2 be a bad usage?

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  • This might have been an interesting question had it focused on into instead of continued.
    – J.R. ♦
    Jan 12, 2015 at 8:34

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It's still the same meaning. But one is continuing with respect to time and the other is continuing with respect to location. In the first sentence the fight is continuing from an earlier time into afternoon. In the second sentence the fight was being carried on in one location and moved into the parking lot. For example, perhaps a husband and wife start arguing with each other inside a store. They keep bickering through the check out line. And as they're moving to the car they keep on arguing. Then you could say,

The argument continued into the parking lot.

Perhaps a fight fight started between two individuals or even two groups. One group tries to move away from the other, but the other pursues. Then the fight continues from one location into another.

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  • But I cannot find dictionary usage examples similar to sentence 2.
    – meatie
    Jan 12, 2015 at 0:28
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    @meatie The dictionary example you pointed to is the example you're looking for. Place and time are frequently treated the same in English.
    – A.Ellett
    Jan 12, 2015 at 0:30
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    @meatie - A dictionary is not an exhaustive list of permissable English usage.
    – J.R. ♦
    Jan 12, 2015 at 8:31

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